Razor blade sharpener



Feb. 23, 1932. l.. BALGA v1,846,935

RAZOR BLADE `SI-IARFIFJNER Filed Nov. 4. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheec l 33 gn uchoz Ladzlflaz/ lga,

SSW t c' Hmm Feb. 23, 1932.l L.. BALGA RAZOR BLADE SHARPENER Filed Nov. 4, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l *Y l I! M, MM@ a 55 LQ I? afga.

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Feb. 23, 1932.

l.. BALGA 1,846,935

RAZOR BLADE SHARPENER Filed Nov. 4, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 7. 0 /Z vg- 6' M fol i@ dwww Y Patented Feb. 23,y 1932 A UNITED STATES PA'TaNr. oFFlcE LADISLV BALGA, OF POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK Razon. lBraun srmnruua'iia j Application led November 4`,\1930. Serial N'o. 493,408.

This invention relates to improvements in razor blade Sharpeners and comprises Aa U- shaped frame having secured to the base thereof a clamping device whereby the same fmay be clamped to a temporary support and.

the U-shaped frame is adapted to support a pair of rollers at opposite ends thereof, one of said pairs of rollers being adjustable relative to the other pair whereby the endless belt or strop passing over opposite pairs of rollers may be adjusted. The invention also comprises means for turning one of the rolls ers comprising a hand crank mounted on a shaft having a suitable gear meshing with a corresponding gear on the shaft of one of the rollers whereby one of the strops will be moved and the roller at the opposite end of the strop will be rotated and said-rotation may be communicated to the other strop by means of the intermeshing gears associated with'the shaft of each of the rollers carried by the adjustable frame member.

It is also a purpose of this invention to provide a device of the above mentioned character with a novel form of blade holder adapted to be positioned relative to the U- shaped frame, whereby the razor blade may be presented to the alternate surfaces of the endless stropping belt.

A-further object of this invention, is to provide removable shafts for the rollers` and means for holding the rollers in place relative to the U-shaped frame and the adjustable frame movable relative thereto.

A still further object of this invention, is to provide a device of the above mentioned character, adapted to be easily manufactured and constructed and having comparatively few parts to become out of order and worn.

Other objects and advantages' of the invention, will become apparent during the course of the following description, forming a part of the speciiication and in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention, illustrating the U-shaped frame clamped to a temporary support and illustrating the movement by way of dotted lines of the razor blade holder;

' Figure 2. is a top elevation illustrating the general contour of the frame and showing the adjustable roll supporting frame at one end thereof;

Figure 3 is a front elevation illustrating the manual drive connection between the crank arm or handle and one of the supporting rolls;

' Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the device illustrating the general configuration of the U-shaped frame and the adjustable roll supporting head at one end-of the frame;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional eview taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1 illustrating the manner in which the adjustable frame and endless strop supporting roll are positioned relative" to the U-shaped frame vand the blade holder is illustrated in dotted lines toshow the position thereof relative to the endless stropping belt; i

Figure 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken on line 6 6, looking in the direction of the arrows in Figure 1, illustrating theendless strop rolls and the manner in which the same are retained relative to the U-shaped frame and the adjustable end frame;

Figure 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view Y taken on lin-e 7-7 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows and illustrating further the endless strop supporting rolls and the intermeshing gearing between one of the rolls and the crank arm;

Figure 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 8 8 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows illustrating the adjustable frame in cross section and showing the endless strop supporting rolls rotatably carried upon supporting pins;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the U'- shaped frame illustrating the stopping'belt as associated with the supporting rollers;

Figure 10 is a vertical elevation of the razor blade holder showing the same partly broken away to illustrate the manner in whichI the cross levers may be held intheir locked or closed position;

Figure 11 is a side elevation of the razor Y blade holder illustrating in dotted lines the manner in which the pivoted cross-levers may be separated for positioning the blade between the jaws and illustrating the locking one of the levers. Y

In the drawings, whereln for the purpose of illustrating the invention and wherein like reference characters will be employed to designate like parts throughout the same, the reference character 1 will generally be employed to designate a U-shaped frame having vertical sections 2 and 3 extending upwardly from the base portion. Secured to the base of the U-shaped frame 1 is a U-shaped clamping device 4 having one leg as at 5 secured to the underportion of the U-shaped frame 1 by welding or the like. The opposite-leg 6 of the U-shaped clamp 4 is provided with a screw threaded opening 7 adapted to receive corresponding screw threads on a, screw threaded bolt or clamping device 8. On one end of the screw threaded bolt 8 is provided a disk 9 while the opposite end is provided with a handle 10 to accommodate turnin movement of the screw threaded bolt 8, whereby the disk 9 may be moved into engagement with the underside of a temporary support T for supporting the U-shaped frame 1 thereon.

Formed integral with an extending laterally from the vertical portions 2 and 3 of the U-shaped frame 1 are a pair of supporting extensions 11 and 12 which taper together at their free ends as clearly illustrated in Figure 1.

Mounted between the vertical portions 2 and 3 of the U-shaped frame member 1 are a pair of roller supporting pins 13 and 14 which are mounted for rotary movement and for supporting rolls 15 and 16 adapted to be rigidly held thereon by means of pins 17 and 18. Each of the rollers 15 and 16 may be provided with angular bores 19 for furnishing a lubricant to the pins 13 and 14 whereby the journals thereof in the vertical frame members 2 and 3 may be lubricated.

The uppermost roller pin 13 is extended as at 20 for receiving a small gear wheel 21 which is adapted to be held thereon in a rigid fashion and which is adapted to mesh with a gear wheel 22 having corresponding end projections 22 and 23 forming bearings for the gear wheel in an extension 24 and the vertical U-shaped frame portion 3 and a member 25 having an angular portion 26 adapted to be secured to the vertical extension 3 of the U- shaped frame by means of a screw 27. The upper end of the member is bent as at 28 to form a leg or supporting portion 29 terminating in an angular portion 30 adapted to be secured to the upper portion of the vertical U-shaped frame member 2 by means of a may be secured to the crank arm 32 by means of a crank pin 34. 4

The roller supporting pins 13 and 14 may be held in place relative to the vertical arms 2 and 3 of the U-shaped frame 1, by means of spring clips 35 presented over the ends of the pins 13 and 14 and held to the U-shaped frame member by a screw or the like 36.

Associated with the free ends of the lateral frame extensions 11 and -12 is a slidable roll supporting member 37 having extending angularly thereto on each side thereof a pair of roll holding arms 38 and 39. Rotatably mounted within the pair of roll holding arms 38 is a roll supporting pin 40 to which is rigidly secured an endless stop belt roll 41 by means of a transverse pin 42 passing therethrough and through the pin or bearing 40. The pin extends through a slot 43 in each of the roll supporting arms'38 t0 allow lateral movement of the roll 41 and the roll supporting member 37. The spring fingers 44 may be secured to the roll holding arms 38 by means of rivets or screws 45 whereby the free g ends of the spring lingers 44 will be presented to the ends of the pin 40. Secured to one end of the roll 40 as by means of screws 46 is a gear wheel 47 which extends beyond the periphery of the roll 41 and is adapted to engage a similar gear wheel 48 on a roll supporting pin 49 having its ends journaled in the lower roll supporting arms 39. Rigidly secured to the pin 49 is a strop supporting roll 50 which is held in a rigid manner by means of a transverse pin 51 similar to the transverse pin 42. A spring clip 52 is secured by means of a rivet or screw 53 to the lower roll supporting arms 39 and the free end of the spring linger 52 is presented to the ends of the roll supporting pin 49 in a manner similar to the spring lingers 44 for holding the roll supporting pin 40 in place. The free ends of the laterally extending frame members 11 and 12 are connected by side pieces 54 and angularly extending lugs 55 are formed on the lateral and vertical edges of the side pieces 54 whereby the same may be engaged by thumb screws 56 having knurled thumb pieces 57 for turning the screw thread members 12 whereby the roll supportingy member 37 and rolls 41 and 50 may be moved longitudinally relative to the frame members 11 and 12 by turning movement ofthe knurled screws 57.

An endless leather stropping belt 61 is adapted to pass over the rolls 15 and 41 while a similar leather stropping belt 62 is adapted to pass over the lower supporting rolls 16 and 50 and it will be noted that the portions of the endless belt adjacent the rolls 41 and 50 are closer together than atthe points adjacent the rolls 15 and 16.

The blade holder comprises a pair of crossed handles 64 and 65 pivotally secured together as at 66 and the pivoted handle 65 terminates in a blade holding jaw 67 while the handle member 64 terminates in a blade holding jaw 68. Formed on the end of the crossed handle 64 is a boss 69 adapted -to slidably receive a cylindrical locking device 70 which is provided with a bearing portion 71 adapted -to closely engage the boss 69 and guide the cylindrical port-ion thereof as at 72 over the handle 64. A coil spring 73 has one of its 'ends bearing against the guide portion 71 of the cylindrical member 70 while the opposite end of the coil spring impinges against a washer 74 held in place by a screw 75 entering the end of the boss 69. The locking cylindrical member 7 0 may be manipulated in order'to allow the cylindrical portion 72 to confine the ends of the cross handles 64 and 65 in the position shown in Figures 10 and 11 whereby the jaws 67 and 68 will be held in close contact with each other. Formed integral with the cross handle 64|are a pair of oppositely extending angular members 7 7 which extend forwardly as at 78 and terminate in angular portions 79 adapted to be received in notches 80 in the lateral edges of the vertical U-shaped members 2 and 3, whereby the blade holder may be positioned between therolls 15 and 16 as illustrated in Figure 1.

For a consideration of the operation of the invention, attention is directed to Figure 1, wherein is illustrated the U-shaped frame 1 secured to a temporary support T. By inserting the blade to be sharpened between the jaws 67 and 68 of the blade holder and clamping the cross handles 64 and 65 in a locked position by means of the locking sleeve 70, the blade may be presented between the endless stropping belts 61 and 62 in such a manner that the angular portions 79 formed on the cross handle 64 may be received in the notches 8() formed in the lateral edges of the vertical members 2 and 3 of the U-shaped frame 1. In this manner, the blade may be alternately moved into engagement with the endless stropping belt in Figure 1 and by turning movement of the crank arm 32 and handle 33, the same may be caused to rotate by means of the gear 22 meshing with the gear 21 on the roll 15 which imparts motion to te roll 41 by means of the endless stropping belt 61 in a counterclockwise direction, which .motion is transmitted to the endless stropping belts 61 and 62 will move away from the U- shaped frame 1 and in the direction of the lateral extensions thereof 11 and 12, whereby the blade B held between the jaws 68 and 67 of the blade holder may be sharpened and provided with an edge by moving the crosshandles 64 and 65 in the positions illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 1 Vhen it is desired to adjust the endless strop 61, to tighten or loosen the same upon the rolls 15, 40, 16 and 50, the locking thumb pieces 59 are loosened upon the screw threaded thumb nut 56 to allow the thumb nut 57 to be turned and move the roll supporting member 37 relative to the laterally extending frame members 11 and 12.

It is to be understood, that the bores 19 in t-he rolls 15 and 16'are similar to the bores in the rolls 41 and 50 and that a lubricant may be admittedthereto for reducing theA friction of the journals of the pins 40 and 49.'

It is also to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and desoI scribed is to be taken as a preferred embodiment of the invention and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the sub-joined claims.

I claim 1. A razor blade Sharpener of the character described, eomprisin a U-shaped frame, a clamp associated with t e base section of the U-shaped frame, whereby the same may be detachably secured to a temporary support, a pair of endless belt supporting rolls mounted between the vertical sections of the U-shaped frame for rotary movement therebetween, a vertical extension carried by one of the vertical sections of the U-shaped frame a crank shaft passing through the vertical extension and being rotatably mountedl -mounted on the free ends of the lateral U- shaped frame extensions, means associated with the U-shaped cross-head for moving the same relative to the lateral extensions, a

pair of endless belt supporting rolls carriedV blade carried therebyimay be alternately preby the adjustable U-shaped cross-head, an sented to the continuous moving faces of the endless stropping'belt passing over one of endless stropping belts.

each of the pairs of endless belt supporting In testimony whereof I alx my si ature.

rollers whereby the complementary continu- LADISLAV B GA. 70 ous moving faces may move in the same dil rection, means for presenting a razor blade between the complementary moving faces of the endless belt, said means including a 10 pair of cross-levers having jaws on one end 75 thereof, a cross-member carried by one of the levers, said cross-member being adapted to be received in notches in the vertical sections of the U-shaped frame, a locking device car- 5 ried by the end of one of the cross-handles, 80

and means for holding the locking device into engagement with the ends of both of the cross-handles whereby the blade held between the jaws will be locked in position and against o movement. 85

2. A safety razor blade Sharpener of the character described, comprising a U-shaped frame, a clamping device associated with the base portion of the U-shaped frame whereby 5 the same may be detachably secured to a mov- 90 able support, a pair of endless belt supporting rolls rotatably mounted between the vertical sections of the U-shaped frame a pair of lateral extensions formed integral with 30 each of the vertical sections of the U-shaped 95 frame, a vertical extension secured to one of the vertical sections of the U-shaped frame, a shaft passing through the vertical extension and the free ends of one of the vertical 15 sections of the U-shaped frame, the crank arm 100 rigidly secured to the shaft, a handle secured to the opposite end of the shaft, whereby turning of the handle will cause a rotary motion to the shaft, a gear wheel mounted on si the shaft in a rigid fashion between the ver- 105 tical egtension and a vertical section of the U-shaped frame, a gear wheel mounted on one of the rollers adapted to mesh with the above mentioned gear wheel, a U-shaped ad- 4:, justable roll frame slidably mounted and car- 110 ried by the free ends of the lateral extensions,

a pair of endless belt supporting rolls rotatably mounted within the adjustable roll supporting frame, thumb screws passing through .su the adjustable roll supporting frame having 115 their ends engaging flanged portions on the lateral extensions whereby turning movement of the thumb screws will cause sliding movement of the adjustable roll supporting 55 frame, a gear wheel rigidly secured to each 120 of therolls, between the adjustable roll supporting frame, an endless stropping belt passing over one of each of the pairs of rollers l above mentioned, the complementary continno uous moving faces of the endless stropping 125 belt being adapted to move in the same direction, and toward the adjustable U-shaped roll supporting frame, and a blade holder pivotally mounted between the vertical sec- 65 tions of the U-shaped frame whereby the 130 

